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Rental Application Fee Laws in Maryland

In Maryland, a landlord with five or more units on one property who charges application fees over $25 must return them within 15 days, keeping only the amount actually spent on a credit check or other application costs.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Fee limit
Over $25: keep only actual costs
If fees exceed $25, the landlord may keep only what was actually spent on a credit check or other application expenses. Applies to landlords with 5 or more units at one location.
Refund required
Yes, unspent part if fees exceed $25
Return due within 15 days after occupancy or a written decision that no tenancy will occur, or the landlord can owe twice the fees.
Portable screening report rule
Not addressed
The fee statute does not address portable reports.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Maryland?

Fee limit in Maryland: Over $25: keep only actual costs. If fees exceed $25, the landlord may keep only what was actually spent on a credit check or other application expenses. Applies to landlords with 5 or more units at one location.

Does a landlord in Maryland have to refund an unused application fee?

Yes, unspent part if fees exceed $25. Refund required in Maryland: yes, unspent part if fees exceed $25. Return due within 15 days after occupancy or a written decision that no tenancy will occur, or the landlord can owe twice the fees.

Does Maryland law address reusable (portable) tenant screening reports?

Not addressed. Portable screening report rule in Maryland: not addressed. The fee statute does not address portable reports.

Where do the Maryland rental application fee laws come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-213. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The rule does not apply to landlords who offer four or fewer units for rent on one parcel or at one location, or to seasonal or condominium rentals.

The application must include a statement explaining the tenant's liabilities and these fee rules.

What this means in practice

Before collecting a fee, landlords can tell applicants in writing how much it is, what it pays for, and the screening criteria that will be used. Several statutes require some of this disclosure, and it also reduces disputes when an application is denied.

Keep a copy of the invoice or receipt from the screening company. Where the law ties the fee to actual cost or requires an itemized receipt, that record shows the fee was lawful.

Check local law as well as state law. In many states a city or county ordinance can set a lower limit or add refund and notice rules, and the stricter rule usually applies. A few states bar local rules on application fees.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.